Department of Korean Language and Culture, NCCU

Required Course	Education Goals & Contents
Elementary Korean	This course starts from the learning of the Korean alphabet. Students are introduced to the basic structure of Korean such as pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentences. At the same time, grammar will be taught gradually. Through the learning of basic sentence patterns, students will be developed with the basic skills of reading, writing, and translating abilities. Text discourse is the basis of this course in addition to practice in translation and sentence composition. At the same time, the interactive learning method of oral practice is incorporated to enable students to become familiar with general conversations used in daily life and different occasions. Various tests on listening and writing will be conducted during the semester. Students are also assigned for reading and assignments.
Intermediate Korean	This course has four teaching objectives: Teaching in Chinese and interpreting in Korean; Emphasizing on interpretation, syntax, and sentence patterns Enabling students to learn and come out with sentences easily; and Building a better foundation for advancement. The Department uses the textbook and supplementary books together to focus on interpretation and the sound of Chinese characters, foreign languages, and etymology in Korean in order to increase the vocabularies of students. Additionally, the Intermediate Korean used by junior and senior high schools in Korea is also the teaching material of the course.
Advanced Korean	This is a three-credit advanced course. Students are required to take Intermediate Korean or have the equivalent Korean abilities. The focus is put on the understanding of Korean sentence patterns and articles, especially reading comprehension. Through the learning of this course, students are more familiar with long Korean articles. Reading Korean newspapers is also the key. Through newspaper reading, students can learn new vocabulary and become familiar with news writing format. They can also know the current affairs in Korea.
Practical Korean	Although there are various types of articles, those related to the daily life are the most important ones. These articles provide us needed information in life. They give fun to life and support to our spirit. These articles are the important targets for language learners. This course teaches students how to read these articles and through the correct understanding of sentences, reading comprehension can be enhanced.
Korean Conversation (I)	This course enables students to understand the construction motives of Korean characters, theories, consonants, and vowels and gradually introduce them to the learning of daily conversation contents (including Korean culture and ideology). After one year of conversational training, students are expected to talk about basic conversations in daily life in Korean fluently. This course helps beginning Korean learners know Korean words and pronounce them correctly. They can also have basic speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills equivalent to the primary school student level. Course outline includes four parts below: (1) Introduction to Korean words and pronunciation; (2) Korean vocabulary; (3) Analyses of simple sentences; and (4) Dialogue and sentence practice.
Korean Conversation (II)	The teaching objective of this course is to improve the conversation Korean ability of Korean major students. It is expected to be incorporated with “Intermediate Korean” and other course learning, through which students’ overall Korean abilities can be improved. This course is mainly based on speaking and listening training. In the class, lectures are given weekly on textbook contents; class dialogues and discussions are conducted in Korean. Furthermore, modern Korean slang and sentence patterns used in daily life are also introduced to improve the conversation and analytical abilities of students. Students are expected to learn comprehensively to improve Korean speaking and listening as well as to achieve the teaching and learning objectives and effectiveness.
Korean Conversation (III)	Daily conversation is the focus of the course to cultivate in students the advanced level of Korean conversation ability. Meanwhile, Korean culture will be introduced. Sentences of daily life use are the main focus. Through the analysis of grammar and practices of sentences, students can correctly understand the meaning of sentences to learn accurate oral expression.
Korean Conversation (IV)	The objective of this course is to cultivate in students the ability to speak Korean fluently in different occasions. When students are equipped with the beginning and intermediate Korean ability, they are able to take this course. With the textbook and supplementary teaching material, students can practice basic Korean abilities. Through the practical conversation practice, they develop Korean speaking ability. In addition to general oral speaking ability, the course objective also includes theme presentation and discussions in Korean.
Korean Language Laboratory (I)	Teaching incorporates audio and video supplementary materials. Through the pronunciation training of vowels and consonants as well as the practice of sound change and connection rules, students’ pronunciation will be enhanced; through the training of complete conversation and sentence listening, students can improve their listening abilities in daily life conversation as well as their speaking abilities. Supplementary vocabulary and grammar will also be given in the course. Course contents in the first semester include: (1) Spelling practice; (2) 1-4 lessons in the textbook; and (3) Other audio and video teaching materials while the second semester covers: (1) 5-10 lessons in the text book; and (2) Other audio and video teaching materials.
Korean Language Laboratory (II)	With the help of repeated listening training, students are familiar with vocabularies, grammar, and sentence patterns; with the listening training of multiple practices and changes of sentence patterns after each lesson, students are expected to have the abilities for full communication. Meanwhile, extra curriculum supplementary materials are given to cultivate better comprehension and emphasize relevant vocabularies and grammar.
Korean Language Laboratory (III)	The course objective is to extensively cultivate the abilities students possess in Korean Listening Training (1) and (2) especially the abilities to listen to Korean in various occasions in daily life. Through Korean drama, films, and news, students have practical listening abilities developed.
Korean Pronunciation	Based on the construction theory of Korean texts, students are trained with correct Korean pronunciation. Through the understanding of basic Korean alphabets and vocabularies and main pronunciation rules, students are taught various pronunciation rules. After knowing Korean pronunciation, students will be able to gradually learn the knowledge of phonetics and phonology and characteristics of Korean sentence pronunciation.
Korean Grammar I	Students are mainly sophomores. Through handouts and teaching materials, students can be systematically introduced to comprehensive syntax concepts after they learn Korean for one year. Syntax 1 uses “Korean Syntax (Phonology, Morphology, Syntax) as the teaching materials to introduce rules, forms, and patterns of Korean syntax.
Korean Grammar II	Students are mainly sophomores. Through handouts and teaching materials, students can be systematically introduced to comprehensive syntax concepts after they learn Korean for one year. Syntax 2 continues Syntax 1; with syntax contents of the teaching material and self-made handouts, grammatical functions are formally introduced.
Korean Composition (I)	Like all languages, the Korean system is different from that of Chinese. Different methods are used to interpret and express. Thus, when writing in Korean, a writer must be familiar with Korean syntax and express from the perspective of Korean. Although it may not be possible to learn to think fully as Korean, at least, students have to understand how Korean think. This course focuses on basic languages used in daily life to illustrate the difference between the expressive methods in Chinese and Korean as well as the application to actual writing.
Korean Composition (II)	This course helps students to correctly understand the objectives and functions of composition and write Korean composition that fits the text requirement. Students will understand the important conditions of writing abilities and link that to Korean articles. They will be further cultivated with writing abilities and understand Korean vocabularies, sentences, and text features to develop various basic Korean writing abilities.

 
 

Elective	Education Goals & Contents
Korean History	The course objectives are: (1) Understand the development of Korean nationality; and (2) Cultivate independent analytical and integrative abilities. Course contents shall be taught with the order below:(1)Ancient Korean History; (2) Medieval Korean History; (3) Contemporary Korean History; and (4) Modern Korean History.
Korean Geography	Korea is positioned on the special geographical location of a peninsula and bridge, the pivot location among super powers. Today in the 21st Century, borders disappear. The shadow of large-scale wars is away, but now challenges are the multinational economic organizations such as NAFTA and the EU rather than military confrontation. Intangible economic wars now replace traditional military wars. With the advantageous geographical location, at the center of Seoul, the Korean Peninsula is at the center of more than one fourth of the world’s population. That shows its importance. The course focuses on the geographical contents and elements.
Introduction to Korean Culture	Through the introduction to Korean culture, students will improve their understanding of Korea and its social trends. This helps students to comprehensively understand Korean culture contents and elements at the beginning of their learning and lay the foundation for future learning and studies on Korean culture. Students are first introduced to Korean culture in daily life such as life, clothing, education, and entertainment, instrument and artifacts, sciences and technology, life styles, and custom. Then students are introduced to the ideologies and thinking that support Korean culture including academic thinking and systems to get to know the most important features of Korean culture.
Introduction to Korean Linguistics	At the beginning, this course introduces the general linguistics to allow students to understand Korean phonology, syntax, vocabularies, texts, and systems. Then the understanding and use of Korean interjection and root as well as honorific and humble forms are introduced. Lectures on the textbook and selective works are given.
Introduction to Korean Literature	This course helps students to understand Korean literature. Through Korean literature, students are able to absorb more Korean knowledge. Through reading, students’ comprehension will be improved. In the first semester, articles are selected from ancient Korean literature and in the second semester, works from contemporary and modern Korean literature are used to incorporate contents taught in Korean Literature History.
Korean Grammar III	In order to correctly use advanced Korean, students need to learn syntax. Students are guided to conduct the in-depth discussion on Korean syntax rules learned. After fully understanding the features of Korean syntax rules, students are cultivated with the ability to understand unique Korean syntax rules. Especially, Korean has more comparative features than Chinese and English. Through the knowledge of general linguistics, students will develop the abilities for further understanding and application.
Korean Word Processing	This course helps students to prepare Korean documents. They will make the best use of the editing software and fully practice various types of computer software. At the same time, they will cultivate the abilities to understand and apply them. This course not only allows students to be familiar with the function and text characteristics of Korean word processing but also learn various features of Korean word processing formats.
Using Korean in Travel	This course is open in response to current trends and practical needs. Based on daily conversation and tourism terminologies, students learn how Koreans greet each other. Students are then introduced to actual use to make reservations, check in and out of hotels, order meals, and conversations with service personnel at hotels, car rental, stations, counters, cashier, theme parks, shopping malls, and during factory visits. Course contents include frequently used Korean.
Appreciation of Korean Movie and Drama	The teaching objectives of this course are allowed Korean major students can improve their listening abilities through watching Korean films and TV drama. Students are expected to incorporate with other courses to improve their Korean abilities. The course is mainly based on listening training and supplemented with speaking training. Through the teaching of Korea TV drama video tapes and DVD films, students are trained with their listening abilities and slangs, sayings, and popular words used by Korean in daily life are introduced to improve students’ analytical abilities of conversation and organization.
Korean-Chinese Translation I	Through teaching, students’ translation abilities are improved. They will fully learn and understand translation points as well as the difference in expression and syntax between Korean and Chinese. Through practice, students know how to become a good translator. They will also learn the translation of essays and poems. Teaching methods include textbook interpretation, syntax explanation, and translation practice of short sentences. Students have to hand in one assignment every two weeks and present as either individuals or groups.
Korean Oral Interpretation	This course is taught to students at the junior year and up and the student number is limited to 20. Under a No Chinese class environment, students are encouraged to talk only Korean. Through interpretation, students can put what they have learned into words. In addition to the training of confidence and responses, students will learn clear pronunciation, language intuition, and usage. Interpreting skills are also one of the course contents.
Oral Business Korean	This course is for students at the junior year and up. In addition to practices of Korean conversation, students learn basic concepts of trading affairs (such as business introduction, price inquiry, quotation, negotiation, payment methods, contract, delivery, loading, compensation claim, and agency) as well as interpreting skills in business occasions. Additionally, incorporating with the reading of current Korean economic affairs, the course helps students to understand the current economic status of Korea. After each unit, a group of students is required to give the presentation in the front. The rest of the students are responsible for questions. Additionally, consecutive interpretation practices in scenarios will be given.
Journalistic Korean	"Korean News" teaches students the newest terms used in Korean news media and trains them to read and analyze various types of news. Students are expected to understand Korean news on the newspaper and the Internet. Furthermore, social comments and editorials on Korean media are also the focuses of the course. Students will then learn current social trends of modern Korea, future development, and the perspectives of the intellectual. Students are guided to properly understand Korea.
Korean Proverbs and Folk Culture	This course targets advanced Korean learners. By incorporating Korean sayings, this course introduces the sources, changes, and basic constitution of Korean sayings. Meanwhile, culture themes in the teaching materials are used to compare the custom difference between Chinese and Korean cultures to enable students to know about Korean custom and culture further.
Advanced Applied Korean	In order to cultivate advanced Korean reading ability, this course teaches students to be familiar with the features of Korean vocabularies and syntax structure. Through practical use, students have their Korean vocabulary use and syntax composition ability developed. Students then are cultivated with advanced Korean reading ability for a better understanding of the use of Korean. The Internet is also used in the course to help students to learn and practically use Korean.
Selected Reading in Korean Literature	This course selects famous short stories, essays (writing), and poems in the contemporary and modern Korean literature. Students are guided to read famous works in the contemporary and modern times in Korea to understand the artistic achievements and impacts of masterpieces. At the same time, students are expected to memorize sayings and quotations to be familiar with writing skills. Furthermore, through the reading of masterpieces, the creation styles, background, and literature schools of writers are introduced to allow students to know the development of contemporary and modern Korean literature.
Korea Culture and Modern Life	If we use the modern life in Korea as the coordinate, what impact and response will we have and what phenomena will appear if we project Korean traditional culture to it? Since the 1960s, along with the rapid social and economic development in Korea, we have seen the mix of western cultural concepts and philosophical thinking that have brought conflict to Korean traditional thought. Cultures, concepts, thinking, and value collapse with each other. Korea has long sought adaption and tolerance. This course would like to let students understand the relevance of Korean traditional culture, modern life, and social changes, especially the new understanding of the role and function of “traditional culture” in modern Korean society. There is the function and value for the inheritance of traditional culture. Students are inspired and cultivated with the care and inheritance to culture.
Current Situation of Korea	Since ancient times, the Korean Peninsula has maintained a close relationship with us. Since the end of the 19th Century, Korean’s national destiny has been tied to that of China. Since World War II, two Koreas have been established on the Peninsula. The political development and interaction between two Koreas affects the peace and security of Northeast Asia. South Korea led others in economic development but tumbled in the end of last century. Now it attempts to stand up again. The isolated North Korea now faces an economic crisis and is forced to ask for help from South Korea and the outside world. These changes shall be understood by us.
Society of Korea	This course helps students to understand the background, structure, and features of ancient Korean society. Through comparison, students will know the social changes and characteristics of modern Korean society. They will also know social operations theory and the drive for advancement. Furthermore, the huge changes and impacts brought in the IMF era are also explained to analyze the brand new modern Korean society and future development in the 21st Century.
Korean Government and It's Politics	This course has three objectives: (1) Enable students to understand the organization and operation of Korean government; (2) Enable students to understand the development and features of Korean political parties; (3) Enable students to know the Korean political environment. Course contents include :(1) Korean governmental organizations in administration, legislation, and judicial rights and the systems’ operation; (2) Past and current political party development in Korea; and (3) Analyses of significant political events in Korea.
Economics and Trade of Korea	This course has three objectives: (1) Enable students to know past and current economic achievements of Korea; (2) Enable students to know practices of Korea to expand foreign trade; and (3) Enable students to understand economic and trading events in Korea. Course contents include: (1) Result of Phase 1 of “Five Annual Economic Development Programs” in Korea; (2) Countermeasures to the 1997 Financial Crisis Adopted by Korea; (3) Foreign Trade and Commercial Relationships of Korea including Taiwan and Korea and between Two Koreas; and (4) Analyses of Significant Economic and Trading Events.
North Korean : A Country Study